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Notes: Ok, here are some little guys found up there. I don’t really have time to get a good id on these, or it seems the sources either.

But these are nice colorful really little guys. The stature and shape of a small Marasmius, or Mycena, but the color and feel of a Hygrocybe. Maybe these are listed in Largent’s Hygrophorus section of Agricales of CA? Or are they a Mycena?

Feb 23, 2007 — ok, after going through Hygrophoraceae section of Agaricales of CA, by Dr. D. L. Largent, I think I have it, or as close as I can get. This is, or is very close to Hygrophorus minutulus. Other close ones are H. subminutulus which is the same but with smaller spores, so it might be that. H. reai which is almost the same, but with a very bitter taste. I didn’t get the taste, so it might be that. But it is listed as very rare only found once by D. Desjardin. H. mollis seems to be larger. more yellow, and becomes squamulose when dry. These stay smooth. And finally H. marchii, which has a collybioid shape and is larger. Also H. minutulus is the only one that says probably common, but overlooked do to its small size. It also says it is found in northern redwood forests, but since Largent is from up the Humboldt way, I will assume he means that’s where he finds them… in any case none of these state they are under live oak and Ca. bay, which is where I found these. (except H. reai was found under D. fir anf Ca. bay, I should have seen if they are bitter, than this would be the second find of them…) So, I am going with the one which is listed as common.

They are different than H. miniatus (H. miniata depending if you like Hygrophorus or Hygrocybe…), in that those are centrally flat or depressed, and the cap has yellow squamules when dry, and also with a larger stature. These are small, umbonate and smooth.